Look for much smaller stores with less merchandise which has already been happening.
The next big thing is FULFILLMENT CENTERS in towns/neighborhoods which will replace many retail stores (think: UPS stores). You can order to your fulfillment center, pick up there and avoid any shipping fees, and also return your unwanted merchandise there. Several department stores will share the same spaces.
Anyone remember the old Sears, Roebuck and S&H?
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Near future or distant future,
Clicks or bricks,
One thing won't change - you still have to have a compelling reason for customers to shop with you, whether is product exclusivity or great service or pricing or convenience.
The one thing that won't change is that Macy's has no appetite to go for any one of those compelling reasons.
well if you store turns into a warehouse you no longer need a op/vs or store manager is "sales manager or whatever they are called this week" you just need grunts to run the show..
The good news is that four months from now the vaccine will have been disseminated throughout the country and with the exception of people who refuse to get vaccinated for political or odd science beliefs, we will be almost back to normal.
The bad news is that for eight months, Macy's customers who were accustomed to the brick and mortar shopping experience have had to learn how to shop online. Even with the pandemic raging, we see the impact in stores today. With inventory levels running significantly down to last year, customers are no longer asking or even accepting offers to order items for them at store level. Customers in their late 50's and older are declining the option to have store associates order items for them when something is out of stock.
The pandemic has hastened an already changing retail landscape, forcing B&M customers to learn how to shop online. Traffic at malls and in stores will never rebound to what it was prior to store closings in the spring and the downward traffic spiral that was already occurring before the pandemic will only hasten.
Macy's will have to continue to reduce costs to offset declining sales. Too many fixed costs related to B&M locations leave the leadership little choice in what comes next. Difficult decisions will need to be made in order to save the company and they will start with changes in 2021. If you have an hourly position with the company, you might as well stay the course, hourly jobs at Macy's aren't much different than hourly positions at other retailers or fast food places.
If you're a salaried executive on the other hand and you are not in the end stages of your career, consider what a future with a company that will continue to downsize looks like if you are want to grow, develop, and advance. Take a look around at how many executives have moved onto other companies with better outlooks. Macy's is a good company with a lot of good people, but working and living through the continued stages of cost cutting and downsizing makes for a depressing place to spend the majority of your team, not too mention living through the annual Hunger Games at the start of every year.
I'm in fulfillment, this thanksgiving was heaven. No customers, lights on and AC! A lot of picks, but such a breeze with no customers!
Would love to see our store turned into a fulfillment center. No more thieving shoplifters running out the door with the high priced goods. Customers contained in a controllable area for pickups, returns, placing orders, making payments, and buying gift cards. I would still have a job because I already am in fulfillment and we could pick merchandise in peace without being bombarded by customers wanting us to ring them up at the register. Go for it, Macy's!
No sh– Sherlock